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Homewood native Marcus Head produces comedy film for all ages, cultures

Marcus Head on the set of his movie “Can’t Get Rite.” (Provided photo)

Marcus Head, a 49-year-old resident of Florida, says his goal in life is to be the most famous person from Homewood. He’s used his career as a touring stand-up comedian to break into the entertainment industry. His first feature length film “Can’t Get Rite” is currently in post-production.

Head wrote, directed and produced the comedy film. About 80% of the film’s budget was out of his own pocket, he said. The film’s IMDb page lists Montell Jordan, the writer of the hit song “This Is How We Do it,” as another one of the producers.

Head said he wants “Can’t Get Rite” to “entertain, educate and make people think about how they can be better.” The story is “about a young man who just can’t get right,” meaning he’s “a good guy, but he just screws up.”

“He found a bag of money that belonged to the mob. But the positive thing is when he got the bag of money, he did positive things with it for the community,” Head said. “He didn’t just take it and go buy a fancy car.”

Head said there’s no swearing in “Can’t Get Rite.” And he said it’s a movie he hopes to be enjoyed by people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

“I wanted something that my kids can watch, something that my parents can watch,” he said. “You limit yourself when you just have curse words.”

“I didn’t want to limit my audience. I wanted to be able to say, ‘Hey, this is not a Black film.’ This is a film that’s entertaining for all races and all ages. It’s about anyone that goes to a barber shop and gets a haircut on the weekend. Anyone who goes to church, and you got that shady pastor who you know something about that person is not right,” he said.

Head said he is currently in negotiations with Comedy Central, BET and VH1 for nationwide release of “Can’t Get Rite.”

Head describes himself as having “deep roots” in Homewood. He attended Churchill and James Hart Schools. Head describes himself as the “class clown” at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. He remembers walking across the stage during the 1990 graduation ceremony, putting on and taking off a pair of sunglasses and getting a standing ovation.

“It was a moment when I wanted to do something,” Head said.

Before Head began his filmmaking career, he worked as general manager at a Steak & Shake restaurant and manager at a TGI Fridays restaurant – both in Atlanta, Georgia. He said he worked in sterile processing at South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest for about five years. He was a stand-up comedian for about 15 years.

“I got into stand-up comedy and really loved it. I got my big break when I used to go on tour with Ron White,” Head said. “That really boosted my career. And then I just started traveling, doing colleges and comedy clubs all over the country.”

One of Head’s favorite places for performing stand-up was in Amish country, he said.

“I’ve been around all circles and all walks of life,” he said. “One of my best friends is a gay, 73-year-old, white man – one of my former bosses when I used to work in a hospital. Him and I talk almost three or four times a week.”

Head said he tells people he’s a “magnet of happiness” because he loves to make people laugh. He said more than anything, he wants to give people love and a feeling of confidence. Head said he’s a big believer in mental health and is always checking on people to make sure they’re okay.

“Can’t Get Rite” isn’t the first film Head has worked on, but it’s the first film produced by his company Mheadfilms. Head said he’s ghostwritten “very prominent films,” but he can’t legally name them because he’s under NDA (non-disclosure agreement) contracts.

Head said Clint Eastwood is an inspiration, but the late John Singleton, the writer and director of “Boyz in the Hood” and other movies, is probably his biggest filmmaking influence.

“I’ve never met the man, but I’ve attended some of his online workshops,” said Head. “One thing that I always remembered [Singleton] saying is if you’re going to do something, show the beauty of the things that aren’t beautiful.”

Head is also a family man with three kids – a 22-year-old son, a 9-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter. In April, he and is wife, Tina, will be married 10 years. He says Tina is his biggest supporter.

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